Quiz: Howstuffworks

How Well Do You Know Latin Vocabulary?

About This Quiz

How much do you know about the ancient language of Rome? Can you beat a second-year Latin student? Test your knowledge of Latin vocabulary and learn about its influence on English!

What does the Latin word "fenestra" mean?

hat

fence

window

orchestra

"Fenestra," or "window," led to the English word, "defenestration." Defenestration means throwing someone out of the window!

What is the English translation of "lumen?"

men's restroom

light

heaven

loom

The Latin word "lumen" inspired English words such as "illuminate" and "luminous." It's similar to the other Latin word for light, "lux," which is more commonly used in old Christian hymns and texts.

Which of the following is the Latin word for "mind?"

memoria

mentior

mens

meus

"Mens, mentis" is the inspiration for the name of the famous high-IQ community, Mensa. "Mens" also means "intellect" and inspired words such as "mental" and "demented."

Which of the following is the Latin verb meaning "to increase?"

crescere

maximere

increcere

puscere

A crescendo -- the part of a musical composition in which the intensity or volume of the music begins to increase -- is named after the Latin word "crescere," which means "to increase" or "to grow."

What does the Latin word "fidelis" mean?

fiddle

faithful

fire

fetching

The motto of the Marine corps, "Semper Fidelis," means "Always Faithful" in Latin. Fidelis is the root of the English word "fidelity."

What is the translation of the Latin word "occultum?"

sorcery

sect

secret

magic

An interesting alternative translation for "occultum" is "place of concealment." Those two translations go a long way in explaining the roots of the English word "occult."

What is a Latin word for "joy?"

rejoicia

laetitia

jovum

jubilatio

"Laetitia" means "joy." This word was trending in 2016 when Pope Francis published an exhortation titled, "Amoris laetitia," or "Joy of Love."

What does the Latin word "faba" mean?

fabulous

favored

bean

tea

A popular egg white substitute called "aquafaba," or quite literally, "bean water," is made from boiling chickpeas in water.

What is the translation of "carno?"

cannibal

stomach

flesh

appetite

"Carno, carnis" means "flesh." It's the root of English words such as "carnal" and "carnivore."

What is the Latin word for "soul?"

anima

sensus

sol

sciere

The word "anima," meaning "life" or "soul," has permeated the English language through such words as "animated," "animation" and "animatronic." The nature of "anima" was greatly debated by Greek and Roman philosophers.

What is the meaning of the Latin word "decimus?"

destruction

docile

percent

tenth

"Decimus" gave rise to the word "decimate." Decimation was a disciplinary practice employed by the Romans against rebellious troops in which every tenth man was cut down.

Which of the following is the correct Latin word meaning "kiss?"

kissum

osculor

remus

nuper

The word "osculor," meaning "kiss," is related to the Latin word for mouth, "os." It gave rise to the word "osculation," which describes a couple kissing.

What does the Latin word "castra" mean?

castrate

home

father

camp

The word "castra," or "camp," is frequently found in Roman accounts of military operations. Their armies had to "castra ponere," or pitch camp, during military campaigns.

What is the meaning of the word "suavis?"

gentle

smooth

good-looking

slick

While today's meaning of "suave" has more to do with smooth sophistication, the original meaning was "gentle" or "sweet."

What does the Latin word "conjunx" mean?

What is the Latin word for "death?"

Many English words and expressions come from "mors." The word "mortgage," for example, is an adaptation of a Latin-derived French phrase meaning "death pledge."

What does the Latin verb "claudere" mean?

to cloud out

to clang

to close

to open

"Claudere," meaning "to close" or "to shut," is the root of "claustrophobia," the fear of small, closed-in spaces.

What is the Latin word for "courage?"

certe

census

auxillium

virtus

The word "virtus" has many translations, including "virtue," "manliness" and "courage." It was considered by the Romans to be a predominantly male characteristic, which is why it was derived from their word for man, "vir."

What does the word "hiberna" mean?

sleep

dream

winter quarters

hideaway

Roman soldiers would establish "hiberna," or "winter quarters," during their military campaigns. The elements were unforgiving and hard on the soldiers, so they had to hunker down for the winter in foreign countries.

What was the Latin word for "emperor?"

rex

duce

imperator

puella

The "imperator," a chief or emperor, would issue "imperati," the orders his soldiers must follow without delay. Hence, we have the English word "imperative" -- something which is most urgent and of utmost importance.

What was a "census?"

a headcount

a tribute

a tax

an obligatory gift

The word "census" literally translated means "tribute." Today, it refers to the process of counting citizens for record-keeping and demographical information. In Roman times, it was used not only to count people but to collect tax from them.

What does the Latin verb "ardere" mean?

to mean sincerely

to plant

to be inflamed

"Ardeo, adere" means "to burn," "to blaze" or "to be inflamed." It's the inspiration for the English word "ardent" and is frequently used in conjunction with romance.

What does the word "bello" mean?

war

beautiful

bully

handbell

The Latin word for war, "bello," inspired English words such as bellicose and belligerent, both descriptions for someone who quickly starts fights.

What does the Latin word "fiducia" mean?

money

fame

virtue

trust

The Latin word "fiducia" means "trust." It's the root of the English word "fiduciary," someone in a position of trust, frequently from a monetary standpoint.

Which of the following correctly translate(s) "res?"

thing

matter

deed

all of the above

The pinch hitter for Latin, "res" has many meanings. Today, it's known because of the expression "in medias res," which describes when a story begins "in the middle of things."

What does the Latin word "aquila" mean?

strong drink

flag

eagle

lake

The eagle was the symbol of Roman legions, and Roman standard bearers would hoist high the image of the eagle in battle. Its alternate meaning is "standard," referring to the long pole that held the eagle's image.

What was the Latin word for "punishment?"

facile

aliquando

quid

poena

The word "subpoena" comes from the Latin word "poena," meaning punishment. It is also related to the word "penalty."

Which of these Latin verbs means "to teach" or "to inform?"

patere

habitare

inicere

docere

"Docere," meaning "to teach," is the root of the word "doctrine." A doctrine is an important teaching in a particular religion or set of beliefs.

What does the Latin word "patria" mean?

fatherland

country

both "fatherland" and "country"

patriot

A "patria" is the land of one's fathers, the country to which you have strong feelings of loyalty and belonging. This word gave rise to words like "patriot" and "patriotic."

What does the Latin word "incendere" mean?

to set fire to

to shun

to offend

to leave

"Incendere" means "to set fire to" or "to burn" something. It's the root of "incendiary," something that will start fires or a person who wants to start fires (literal or metaphorical).

What is the Latin word for "voice?"

What was a phalanx?

The Roman phalanx was formed when soldiers interlocked their shields to protect themselves and their fellow soldiers from projectile weapons. It was a successful strategy on the battlefield.

What is the correct translation of the Latin verb "sentire?"

to dawdle

to think

to walk in rigid military form

to wait

"Sentire" means "to think," "to feel" or "to perceive." It is the basis of the word "sentient," which describes creatures that are self-aware.

What is the Latin word for "new?"

absum

agere

maximus

novus

"Novus" means "new." An example of its influence on English is the word "novel," which refers to something new and exciting.

What does the Latin word "verax" mean?

truth

tenacity

statue

snake

The word "verax," or "truth," inspired the English word "veracity," an adjective which describes the truthfulness of a thing.

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